Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1887-12-02

whose head, till now, ho had seen pro-
iecting above wheat field, had disap-
pcarcd, as II he had fallen. But in n
moment his head camo into view again;
finally he was lost behind tho hedges,
and the Captain saw him no moro.
He then flew downstairs; it was
raining buhms; the rooms woro eEsum-
bcrcd with the wounded; some OF them
rcolcd about like drunken men, catch
ing at the furniture; walls and floor
were spattcrcd with Blood corpsos
were lying across the doors; the Lieut.
tenants arm had been broken by n
balls every thing was in whirl Of
smoke and dust
"Courage!n yelled the Captain.
"Stck to your posts Relief is comingl
Courage for little while longer!'
The Austrians had drawn nearer yet,
their contortcd faces loomcd through
the smoke, above the rattle of the firing
rose their savage cries, insulting, de-
manding surrender, threatening
slaughter Occasionally soldier,
tcrror-s rickcn, rctrcatcd from the
window; the sergeant drove him back.
But the defenders fire was slackcning;
their faces showed discouragcmont; it
was impossible TO prolong the resist
ancc Suddenly tho firing of the Aus
trians slackcncd, and n laundering
voice shouted, first in German, then in
Italian:
"Surrcndcrl"
"NoN' howlcd the Captain from
window. And the firing began again
stcadinrund ficrcer on both sucs. More
soldiers tell. Already more than one
window was without defenders. The
fatal moment was close nt hand. The
Captain was muttering between his
teeth in broken voice: They're not
coming! They're not coming" and
he ran furiously about, twisting his
sabcr in his clcnchcd hand, resolved to
die, when u sergeant, coming down
from the garrett cried in loud voice:
"They're comingN'
They're coming: Tho Captain re-
pcatcI, with u shout of joy. At this
Snpub Hll' ulhlll, Nbh'ittftI, S'l p''huNS
and officers, rushed to the windows,
and once more resistance grew fierce.
A few moments after, sort of unccr-
tainty and beginning of disorder were
remarked in the enemy. Immediately,
in great haste, the Captain formed
n small company down stairs,
with fixed bayonets ready to
make n sally. Then he flew up
stairs again. He had scarcely got up
there when they heard hurried tread,
accompanied by formidable hurrah,
and from The windows they saw ad-
vancing through the smoke the two
cornered hats of the Italian carabinocrs,
n squadron dashing along at full speed,
and the flashing of sword blades
brandishcd in the mir, descending on the
heads, shoulders and backs of the
enemy. Then the little troop rushed |
out of the door with lowered bayoncts;
the enemy wavered, became disorder
ed and took to fight the ground re-
manned clear, the house was free, and |
n short time after the height was oc-
cupied by two battalons of infantry |
and two cannon.
The Captain, with his remaining
soldiers, reioined his regiment, fought
again, and was slightly wounded in |
the left hand by gancing ball, in the
last bayonet charge. The day ended |
in victory for us.
But the day after, the fight having
begun again, the Italians were over
whelmcd, in spite of brave resist
ancc, by the superior number of the |
Austrians, and on the morning of the
26th they were compelled to retreat
sorrowfully toward the Mincio.
The Captain, although wounded.
marched on foot with his soldiers, who
were tired and silent, and toward sun
set reached Goito on the Mincio, and
Immediately sought out his lieutenant,
who had been picked up, with n broken
arm, by our ambulance, and who had |
arrived there first. He was directed to |
n church, where field hospital had |
hastily been installed. He went there. |
The church was full of wounded, re-
clining on two rows OF beds and mat
tresses stretched on the floor; two doc
tors and various assistants were anx-
iously going and coming, and stitled
cries and groans We're heard.
On entering the Captain stopped
and looked about him, in search of
his officer. just then he heard fai't
voice close by, calling to hims
"Captain!
He turned around; it was the drum
mer boy; he was stretched on trestle
bed, covered up to the chest by n coarse
window curtain with little red and
white squares, with his arms out; he
was pale and thin, but with his eyes
still sparkling, like two black gems.
care you herePn the Captain asked
him, in an astonished, but stern man
ner. "Bravo! You did your dutyrn
II did what could" answered the
drummer boy.
Have you been wounded?" said the
Captain, looking around for his officer
in the beds near by.
"What would you have?" said the
boy, who took courage to speak from
the proud pleasure of being wounded
for the first time, and without which he
would not have dared to open his
mouth in the presence of his Captain.
al had to run like II hunchback; they
saw me Immediately. | should have
arrived twenty minutes sooner if they
hadn't hit me. Fortunately l found n
staff Canfnin lirnctly tp whom to pivp